Human physiology (Volume 2) . Lateral view of Pelvic Viscera in the Female. 334 GENERATION. at the base of the nymphse ; and the veins of which it is constitutedare called plexus retiformis. The upper portion of the vagina, to asmall extent, is covered by the peritoneum. The sphincter or con-strictor vaginse muscle surrounds the orifice of the vagina, andcovers the plexus retiformis. It is about an inch and a quarter wide,and ordinarily about six inches in length ; arises from the body ofthe clitoris, and passes backwards and downwards, to be insertedinto the dense, white substance, in the cen
Human physiology (Volume 2) . Lateral view of Pelvic Viscera in the Female. 334 GENERATION. at the base of the nymphse ; and the veins of which it is constitutedare called plexus retiformis. The upper portion of the vagina, to asmall extent, is covered by the peritoneum. The sphincter or con-strictor vaginse muscle surrounds the orifice of the vagina, andcovers the plexus retiformis. It is about an inch and a quarter wide,and ordinarily about six inches in length ; arises from the body ofthe clitoris, and passes backwards and downwards, to be insertedinto the dense, white substance, in the centre of the perineum,which is common to the transversi perinei muscles, and the ante-rior point of the sphincter ani. Fig. Anterior view of the Female Organs. Near [the external aperture of the vagina is the hymen or vir-ginal, or vaginal valve, which is a more or less extensive, mem-branous duplicative, of variable shape, and formed by the mu-cous membrane of the vulva, where it enters the vagina, so that itcloses the canal, more or less completely. It is generally verythin, and easily lacerable : but is sometimes extremely firm, so asto prevent penetration. It is usually of a semilunar shape ; some-times oval from right to left, or almost circular, with an aperturein the middle, whilst, occasionally, it is entirely imperforate, andof course prevents the issue of the menstrual flux. It is easilydestroyed by mechanical violence of any kind, as by stronglyrubbing the sexual organs of infants by coarse cloths, and byulcerations of the part; hence its absence is not an absolute proofof the loss of virginity, as it was of old regarded by the is its presence a positive evidence of continence. Indiv
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1840, booksubjectphysiology, bookyear1
